Air stream selector for an air drill seeding system

ABSTRACT

A collector/distribution assembly is provided for use with a product supply tank having a bottom outlet, comprising a housing having a front wall, a back wall and two side walls, said housing having an open top for receiving product from the bottom outlet of the product supply tank, an open bottom and at least one pair of side by side loading zones comprising a left loading zone and a right loading zone; a number of left pneumatic conveying lines for receiving air, each left pneumatic conveying line operably associated with a corresponding left loading zone to allow air to pass into, through and out of the left loading zone; a number of right to pneumatic conveying lines for receiving air, each right pneumatic conveying line operably associated with a corresponding right loading zone to allow air to pass into, through and out of the right loading zone; and at least one air stream selector device comprising a shaped diverter operable to be positioned at the bottom of the housing; whereby when the at least one air stream selector device is positioned at the bottom of the housing, the device closes off either the right loading zone or the left loading zone of one pair of side by side loading zones thereby diverting product to the other of the right loading zone or the left loading zone.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field ofmulti-compartment air seeding systems, where the compartments can beused to selectively supply different agricultural materials to specificmetering assemblies and air streams based on volume considerations andcrop requirements. More particularly, the present invention is directedto an improved collector/distribution assembly comprising an air streamselector device for selectively diverting material to one air stream oranother.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many agricultural applications, different particulate materials suchas seed, fertilizer, inoculants and other seed treatments are applied toa field in controlled amounts at simultaneous or different times.Strictly controlled rates of application are often critical to optimizecrop yield and to efficiently make use of the applied particulatematerial. To apply these types of agricultural particulate materials incontrolled amounts, conventional systems are generally comprised of atank for containing the particulate material, and a metering device. Inthese systems, the metering device receives the particulate materialfrom the tank, and meters and delivers this material at a controlledrate to the soil.

Air seeders are commonly used to apply agricultural particulate materialand are often comprised of a wheeled or tracked seed cart that includesone or more frame-mounted tanks for holding seed or fertilizer or both.This type of seeder also generally comprises a metering system used todispense particulate material from the tanks and a pneumaticdistribution system for delivering the products from the tanks to thesoil.

Several different types of air seeders are available, including doubleshoot air seeders and triple shoot air seeders. Double shoot air seedersare often used to deposit both fertilizer and seed into the soil in asingle pass. Generally, double shoot air seeders comprise acollector/distribution assembly positioned below each product tank(i.e., seed tank and fertilizer tank), each collector/distributionassembly having at least a pair of vertically spaced loading zones,i.e., an upper loading zone and a lower loading zone. Each loading zonehas its own air stream passing transversely therethrough for deliveringeither the seed or the fertilizer to the furrowing elements. Thefurrowing elements are generally arranged to deposit the seed andfertilizer into the ground at slightly different locations, to preventtoo much fertilizer from being in contact with the seed in the earlystages of seed growth.

Generally, a diverter mechanism is used to dictate which loading zonewill be in use, i.e., which loading zone will be open and which loadingzone will be closed. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,599, the diverter mechanismcomprises a series of diverter flaps that are actuated with anexternally mounted handle. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,679, the divertermechanism comprises a horizontally adjustable slide having two positionsto divert product into either an upper or lower receiving air stream.

However, the aforementioned designs either require a complex multitudeof diverter valves with a complex linkage between valves so that all canbe adjusted at once or a slide mechanism which may result in onlypartial coverage of a particular loading zone. It is also important fora farmer to be able to completely close off one air stream when meteringinto the other, to avoid unwanted mixing of products in the air streams.Thus, when using a multitude of diverter valves, they all must bealigned properly and linkages adjusted and set carefully in order toensure that one air stream is sealed off from the other.

Also, with the prior art diverter designs, there is a tendency to haveair leaking between air streams due to the difficulty of getting theinternal flaps set properly. Thus, there is a need for a diverter systemthat will maintain isolation between the pairs of air distributionsystems and accomplish true separation of the air streams.

Furthermore, the collector/distribution assemblies described in theprior art generally require a separate element (e.g., clean out floor 70of U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,599), which needs to be removed for clean out ofthe collector/distribution assembly. The present invention combinesselection and clean out in a single selector device which is simple tooperate and avoids unwanted mixing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may be used in a variety of air seeding systemsand is particularly useful for systems having a plurality of productsupply tanks useful for holding products such as such as seed,fertilizer, inoculants and other seed treatments. In this embodiment,each product supply tank will have a collector/distribution assembly,which assembly is generally positioned beneath each supply tank, forcollecting product from the tank and distributing product through oneair stream or another. It is understood, however, that a single tankhaving a plurality of separate compartments, which can be of the same ordifferent size, and each compartment can contain a variety ofagricultural particulate material such as seed, fertilizer, inoculantsor other seed treatments, can also be used. In this embodiment, acollector/distribution assembly would be positioned beneath each tankcompartment. The air seeding system can take the form of a cart that canbe towed by a variety of agricultural vehicles such as a tractor.

The present invention discloses a selector device for use with acollector/distribution assembly comprising a housing having an open topand an open bottom and comprising at least one pair of loading zones,each loading zone having an air stream passing transverselytherethrough, for delivering product to a seeding apparatus comprising aplurality of furrowing elements, typically seed knives and fertilizerknives, for depositing seed and/or fertilizer into the soil. In oneembodiment, the at least one pair of loading zones are substantiallyside by side, thereby comprising a right loading zone and a left loadingzone. The selector device comprises a shaped diverter which can bepositioned at the bottom of the housing to close off one of the at leastone pair of loading zones thereby diverting product to the other of thepair of loading zones. The selector device thus acts to both seal thebottom of the collector/distribution assembly as well as to divertproduct to one loading zone or the other. The simplicity of the designallows for consistent separation of the air streams due to the fact thatthere are no moving parts.

Thus, in one aspect, an air stream selector device for use in acollector/distribution assembly, the collector/distribution assemblinghaving at least one section, the at least one section having a top and abottom and a pair of side by side loading zones, a left loading zone anda right loading zone, and the at least one section operable to receive aproduct from a product supply tank into the left loading zone and theright loading zone and distribute the product to an air seeder, isprovided, the air stream selector device comprising:

a first side wall and a second side wall; and

a shaped diverter positioned between the first and second side walls;

wherein the air stream selector device is adapted to be operablyattached to the bottom of an individual section and the shaped diverteris shaped to prevent product from collecting in either the right loadingzone or the left loading zone of the individual section, whereby whenthe air stream selector device is attached to the bottom of theindividual section in a first orientation, it prevents product fromcollecting in the right loading zone and when the air stream selectordevice is attached to the bottom of the individual section in a secondorientation, it prevents product from collecting in the left loadingzone.

In another aspect, a collector/distribution assembly is provided for usewith a product supply tank having a bottom outlet, comprising:

-   -   a housing having a front wall, a back wall and two side walls,        said housing having an open top for receiving product from the        bottom outlet of the product supply tank, an open bottom and at        least one pair of side by side loading zones comprising a left        loading zone and a right loading zone;    -   a number of left pneumatic conveying lines for receiving air,        each left pneumatic conveying line operably associated with a        corresponding left loading zone to allow air to pass into,        through and out of the left loading zone;    -   a number of right pneumatic conveying lines for receiving air,        each right pneumatic conveying line operably associated with a        corresponding right loading zone to allow air to pass into,        through and out of the right loading to zone; and    -   at least one air stream selector device comprising a shaped        diverter operable to be positioned at the bottom of the housing;    -   whereby when the at least one air stream selector device is        positioned at the bottom of the housing, the device closes off        either the right loading zone or the left loading zone of the at        least one pair of side by side loading zones thereby diverting        product to the other of the right loading zone or the left        loading zone.

In one embodiment, when the air stream selector device is positioned atthe bottom of the housing in one orientation, the right loading zone isclosed off and when the air stream selector device is positioned at thebottom of the housing in the opposite orientation, the left loading zoneis closed off. Thus, depending on the orientation of the air streamselector device, product is directed either to an air stream in a leftpneumatic conveying line or to an air stream in a right pneumaticconveying line. The selected pneumatic conveying lines then deliver theproduct such as seeds or fertilizer to the appropriate furrowingelements for inserting the product into the soil.

In one embodiment, the air stream selector device also serves to sealoff the bottom of the collector/distributing assembly to prevent loss ofproduct therethrough. In another embodiment, the removal of the airstream selector device allows the clean out of thecollector/distributing assembly.

In one embodiment, there is a separate air stream selector device foreach pair of side by side loading zones. In another embodiment, a numberof air stream selector devices corresponding to the same number of sideby side loading zones are connected to one another to operate as asingle air stream selector device. In one embodiment, a number of airstream selector devices are positioned side by side on a clean out floorso that the air stream selector devices operate as a single air streamselector device and a clean out floor.

The ability to reverse the air stream selector device provides forgreater flexibility in making use of a product holding tank on a seedingsystem. For example, in one application, the tank (or compartment) maybe used to contain and deliver seed, whereas, in another application,this tank (or compartment) may be used to contain and deliverfertilizer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention, both as to its organization and manner ofoperation, may best be understood by reference to the followingdescription, and the accompanying drawings wherein like referencenumerals are used throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-compartment air seeding systemequipped with two collector/distribution assemblies of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a collector/distribution assembly of thepresent invention having eight pairs of side by side loading zones andhaving one embodiment of an air stream selector device of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a cut away of a collector/distribution assembly comprisingonly one pair of side by side loading zones having an air streamselector device inserted in one orientation.

FIG. 4 is a cut away of a collector/distribution assembly comprisingonly one pair of side by side loading zones having an air streamselector device inserted in the opposite orientation of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5A is isometric views of another embodiment of acollector/distribution assembly comprising only one pair of side by sideloading zones and another embodiment of an air stream selector devicewhich attaches to the bottom of the collector/distribution assembly.

FIG. 5B is isometric views of an assembled collector/distributionassembly and air stream selector device of FIG. 5A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of various embodiments of thepresent invention and is not intended to represent the only embodimentscontemplated by the inventors. The detailed description includesspecific details for the purpose of providing a comprehensiveunderstanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that the present invention may be practicedwithout these specific details.

FIG. 1 illustrates an air seeding system 100 comprising a dual materialtank 94 having two separate compartments, 96 and 98, for holding twoseparate products, e.g., particulate materials such as seed orfertilizer. The dual material tank 94 is carried by a frame 36, whichcan adopt a wide variety of different configurations, so that the airseeding system 100 can be pulled or towed by a variety of differentagricultural vehicles such as a tractor. By way of example, compartment96 may be filled with particulate fertilizer and compartment 98 may befilled with seed. This is a common configuration when using a singlepass of the air seeding system to both seed and fertilize.

As further shown in FIG. 1, each compartment 96 and 98 is fitted withits own collector/distribution assembly, 37 a and 37 b, respectively,whereby, in this example, collector/distribution assembly, 37 a and 37 bfurther comprise metering devices 35 a and 35 b, respectively. Forexample, collector/distribution assembly 37 a may be dispensingfertilizer and collector/distribution assembly 35 b may be dispensingseed. Compartments 96 and 98 can be tapered downward to help direct thematerial into their respective collector/distribution assemblies, 37 aand 37 b. The material can first enter metering assemblies 35 a and 35 bby gravity to be metered before distribution.

The air seeding system 100 further comprises a pneumatic distributionsystem 92 comprising a plurality of high capacity fans 90 which directair through a plurality of pipes or conduits, often referred to asprimary distribution lines, each of which is operably connected to bothcollector/distribution assembly 37 a and 37 b. FIG. 1 only shows twoprimary distribution lines, pneumatic conveying lines 86 and 88,however, it is understood that the number of pneumatic conveying lineswill depend on the size and configuration of the collector/distributionassemblies.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment of an eight sectioncollector/distribution assembly 237 and one embodiment of an air streamselector assembly 210 of the present invention. Collector/distributionassembly 237 comprises a housing 259 having a front wall 260, a backwall 262, two side walls, 264 a and 264 b, an open top 266 and an openbottom 268. Inner dividing walls 269 form the eight sections 238.

Each section 238 of collector/distribution assembly 237 comprises a leftloading zone 250 and a right loading zone 252, positioned side by side.Section 238 is also referred to as a pair of side by side loading zones.Each loading zone 250, 252 further comprises a pneumatic conveying linefor receiving air. For example, left loading zone 250 comprises leftpneumatic conveying line 286 and right loading zone 252 comprises rightpneumatic conveying line 288. It can be appreciated that pneumaticconveying lines are generally comprised of discontinuous tubing so as tobe operably engaged with each of the collector/distribution assemblies.

Air stream selector assembly 210 (which is shown in FIG. 2 as beingremoved from the collector/distribution assembly 237) comprises a numberof air stream selector devices 240, each device having a shaped diverter242 that is shaped such that, when the air stream selector assembly 210is positioned onto the bottom 268 of the housing 259, the right loadingzones 252 are blocked off in such a fashion that product is preventedfrom being conveyed through the right pneumatic conveying lines 288 ofthe right loadings zones 252. Thus, product is directed to the leftloading zones 250 and through left pneumatic conveying lines 286. Inthis embodiment, the shaped diverter comprises a substantially U-shapedvalley at one end (e.g., left end) and a curved upward slope at theother end (e.g., right end). The U-shaped valley helps to collect theproduct in the left loading zone for distribution through the leftpneumatic conveying lines 286 and the curved upward slope directsproduct away from the right loading zone and into the U-shaped valley.In one embodiment, the number of air stream selector devices arepositioned on a clean out floor 244 so that the air stream selectorassembly 210 can act as both a diverter and a clean out assembly.

As shown in FIG. 2, air stream selector assembly 210 is oriented suchthat the shaped diverters 242 prevent flow from the right loading zones252 to the right pneumatic conveying lines 288. However, in the oppositeorientation (i.e., reversed) the shaped diverters 242 prevent flow fromthe left loading zones 250 to the left pneumatic conveying lines 286.This can be seen more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, in one embodiment,air stream diverter assembly 210 is designed so that it can be orientedin a first position (as shown in FIG. 2) so that the right loading zonesare blocked or can be inserted in a second position whereby the leftloading zones are blocked. However, it is understood that an operatorcould have two separate air stream selector assemblies, one for blockingright loading zones and one for blocking left loading zones.

FIG. 3 is a cut away of a collector/distribution assembly 337 comprisingonly one pair of loading zones, left loading zone 350 and right loadingzone 352. The air stream selector device 340 in this embodimentcomprises a first side wall 390, a second side wall 391, and a shapeddiverter 342 positioned between the two side walls, said shaped divertersized to, in one orientation, prevent the collection of a product in theright loading zone and, in the opposite orientation, prevent thecollection of a product in the left loading zone.

In one embodiment, the air stream selector device is a substantiallyunitary body, whereby a substantially tubular cavity 392 having adiameter of similar or same dimensions as the inner diameter of thepneumatic conveying lines is formed therethrough, beneath the curvedupward slope of diverter 342 to allow a second product (or air) to bedispensed therethrough from a second product tank which has its owncollector/distribution assembly attached thereto. In this embodiment,the shaped diverter 342 is shaped so that it also forms a U-shapedvalley 393 opposite cavity 392. This allows product being dispensed fromcollector/distribution assembly 337 to flow more readily to and throughthe corresponding pneumatic conveying line and therefore there is lesschance of product accumulating in corners or crevices. In theorientation shown in FIG. 3, the air stream selector device 342 fitsonto the bottom of collector/distribution assembly 337 such that theright loading zone 352 is blocked and therefore product incollector/distribution assembly 337 is prevented from being carriedthrough the corresponding right pneumatic conveying line (not shown). Inthe reverse orientation, as shown in FIG. 4, air stream selector device340 fits onto the bottom of collector/distribution assembly 337 suchthat the left loading zone 350 is blocked and therefore product incollector/distribution assembly 337 is prevented from being carriedthrough the corresponding left pneumatic conveying line (not shown).

In another embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 5A andFIG. 5B, collector/distribution assembly 437 also comprising only onepair of loading zones, left loading zone 450 and right loading zone 452.The bottom 468 of collector/distribution assembly 437 is fitted withfour curved extensions or lips; lips 494 a/494 b fitted to the rightside at the rear and front of the collector/distribution assembly 437,respectively, and lips 495 a/495 b fitted to the left side at the rearand front of the collector/distribution assembly 437, respectively. Inthis embodiment, the air stream selector device 440 comprises a firstside wall 490, a second side wall 491, and a shaped diverter 442positioned between the two side walls, said shaped diverter sized to, inone orientation, prevent the collection of a product in the rightloading zone (as shown in FIG. 5A) and, in the opposite orientation,prevent the collection of a product in the left loading zone.

With further reference to FIG. 5A, in this embodiment, the air streamselector device 440 further comprises a substantially tubular cavity 492having a diameter of similar or same dimensions as the inner diameter ofpneumatic conveying line 486 (or pneumatic conveying line 488 ifattached in the opposite orientation), to allow a second product (orair) to be dispensed from a second product tank which has its owncollector/distribution assembly attached thereto through pneumaticconveying line 486. The shaped diverter 442 is shaped so that it forms avalley 493 opposite cavity 492. This allows product being dispensed fromcollector/distribution assembly 437 to flow more readily to and throughthe corresponding pneumatic conveying line and therefore there is lesschance of product accumulating in corners or crevices.

In this embodiment, air stream selector device 440 further comprisesfour curved extensions or lips; lips 498 a/498 b fitted to the rightside at the rear and front of cavity 492, respectively, and lips 499a/499 b fitted to the left side at the rear and front of the valley 493,respectively. Thus, when the air stream selector device is attached tothe bottom of collector/distribution assembly 437, lips 494 a, 494 bline up with lips 498 a and 498 b to form jutting small cylinders towhich a connector 472 can be attached. Thus, right pneumatic conveyingline 488 can be attached to the assembled collector/distributionassembly 437 and air stream selector device 440 via connector 472.Similarly, lips 495 a, 495 b line up with lips 499 a and 499 b to formjutting small cylinders to which a connector 470 can be attached. Thus,left pneumatic conveying line 486 can be attached to the assembledcollector/distribution assembly 437 and air stream selector device 440via connector 472.

In the orientation shown in FIG. 5A, when the air stream selector device442 fitted to the bottom 468 of collector/distribution assembly 437, theright loading zone 452 is blocked and therefore product incollector/distribution assembly 437 is prevented from being carriedthrough the corresponding right pneumatic conveying line 488. Instead,product is directed to the left loading zone 450 to be carried throughleft pneumatic conveying line 486. In the reverse orientation (notshown) air stream selector device 440 fits onto the bottom ofcollector/distribution assembly 437 such that the left loading zone 450is blocked and therefore product in collector/distribution assembly 437is prevented from being carried through the corresponding left pneumaticconveying line 486. Instead, product is directed to the right loadingzone 452 to be carried through right pneumatic conveying line 488.

By way of example, in one operation, with reference to FIG. 1, it may bedesirable to deposit both seed and fertilizer in a single pass. Thus,compartment 96 may be loaded with seed. In this example, it may bedesirable to have the seed directed by an air stream through leftpneumatic conveying line 86. For this to occur, an air stream selectordevice of the present invention is positioned in collector/distributionassembly 37 a such that seed cannot travel through the right pneumaticconveying line 88 (see FIG. 3 where right pneumatic conveying line 388is “blocked” from receiving seed by shaped diverter 342 of air streamselector device 340). Left pneumatic conveyer line 86 can then beconnected to a secondary distribution manifold mounted on the seedingtool (not illustrated). Further, compartment 98 may be loaded withfertilizer. Thus, it would be desirable to have the fertilizer directedby an air stream through right pneumatic conveying line 88. For this tooccur, an air stream selector device is positioned incollector/distribution assembly 37 b such that fertilizer cannot travelthrough the left pneumatic conveying line 86 (see FIG. 4 where leftpneumatic conveying line 386 is “blocked” from receiving fertilizer byshaped diverter 342 of air stream selector device 340). Right pneumaticconveyer line 88 can then be connected to a secondary distributionmanifold mounted on the fertilizing tool (not illustrated).

The ability to direct material from any compartment or tank throughdifferent pneumatic conveyer lines can greatly enhance the efficiencywith which individual compartments can be used. For example, an operatormay want to use a larger compartment for seeds in one application,while, in another application, this compartment could be used to holdfertilizer. In this manner, a specific compartment is not limited to aspecific air stream.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with the disclosedembodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not intended tobe limited to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention isintended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which maybe included within the spirit and scope of the invention. Variousmodifications will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art,since the generic principles of the present invention have been definedherein specifically to describe air seeding systems.

1.-7. (canceled)
 8. A collector/distribution assembly for use with aproduct supply tank having a bottom outlet, comprising: a housing havinga front wall, a back wall and two side walls, said housing having anopen top for receiving product from the bottom outlet of the productsupply tank, an open bottom and at least one pair of side by sideloading zones comprising a left loading zone and a right loading zone; anumber of left pneumatic conveying lines for receiving air, each leftpneumatic conveying line operably associated with a corresponding leftloading zone to allow air to pass into, through and out of the leftloading zone; a number of right pneumatic conveying lines for receivingair, each right pneumatic conveying line operably associated with acorresponding right loading zone to allow air to pass into, through andout of the right loading zone; and at least one air stream selectordevice comprising a shaped diverter operable to be positioned at thebottom of the housing and having no moving parts; whereby when the atleast one air stream selector device is positioned at the bottom of thehousing, the device closes off either the right loading zone or the leftloading zone of one pair of side by side loading zones thereby divertingproduct to the other of the right loading zone or the left loading zone.9. The collector/distribution assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherebywhen the air stream selector device is positioned at the bottom of thehousing in one orientation, the right loading zone is closed off andwhen the air stream selector devise is positioned at the bottom of thehousing in the opposite orientation, the left loading zone is closedoff.
 10. The collector/distribution assembly as claimed in claim 8,whereby the air stream selector device also serves to seal off thebottom of the collector/distributing assembly to prevent loss of productor air therethrough.
 11. The collector/distribution assembly as claimedin claim 8, whereby there is a separate air stream selector device foreach pair of side by side loading zones.
 12. The collector/distributionassembly as claimed in claim 8, whereby all of the air stream selectordevices are operably connected to one another to operate as a single airstream selector assembly.
 13. The collector/distribution assembly asclaimed in claim 8, whereby all of the air stream selector devices arepositioned side by side on a clean out floor.
 14. Thecollector/distribution assembly as claimed in claim 8, whereby theshaped deflector comprises a substantially U-shaped valley at one endand curved upward slope at an opposite end.